Many years ago these buildings were used for defense against enemies, they were residence of the monarch or a haven for those who retired from worldly life. Now these majestic and beautiful buildings delight the eye of tourists around the world.

January 26, 2013

Leeds Castle is one of the most beautiful castles in
England and is often referred to as 'the loveliest castle in the World'. The
castle is situated on the River Len about 5 miles (8 km) southeast of the town
of Maidstone, Kent, England. The name 'Leeds' originates from the name of a
chief minister of King Ethelbert IV ( 856-860) called Ledian (it is not
associated with the city of Leeds!).

In 1139 the castle
was besieged and taken by Stephen of Blois who, after the death of Henry I,
ascended the throne in place of Henry’s daughter Matilda. The de Crèvecoeur
family soon regained control of Leeds, and building work continued
spasmodically through the 12th and into the 13th centuries. Some remnants of
this can be traced in details such as the medieval two-light window at the end
of the Banqueting Hall, and the simple arch within the outer arch of the
gatehouse which marks the site of the original gates.

January 1, 2013

The Alcázar of
Segovia (literally, Segovia Castle) is a palace and a fortress of Spanish kings
in the in the historic district of Segovia city, Spain. The castle is situated
on a cliff, located at the confluence of the rivers Eresma and Klamores, near
the Guadarrama mountains (part of the Cordillera Central). The Alcázar is one
of the most distinctive castle-palaces in Spain by virtue of its shape – like
the bow of a ship. It was originally built as a fortress but has served as a
royal palace, a state prison, a Royal Artillery College and a military academy
since then. The castle is one of the inspirations for Walt Disney's Cinderella
Castle.

The Alcázar of
Segovia, like many fortifications in Spain, started off as an Arab fort, which
itself was built on a Roman fort but little of that structure remains. The
oldest testimony we have of the Alcázar is a document dating from the early
days of the 12th century (1122), a short time after the town had been
recaptured by Alfonso VI
of León and Castile, which refers to the fortress as a hill-fort on the
Eresma. A short time later, in a letter of 1155, it was already being referred
to as "Alcázar". However, it is more than probable that the fortress
had existed in earlier times, possibly since the Roman occupation, because
granite blocks similar to those of the Aqueduct have been found in the course
of recent excavations.